A chaotic begin to the school soccer season has set the items in place for a midseason stretch not like another. With nonconference video games biking off the schedule, we start the week-to-week grind with an eye fixed on league play in expanded conferences with quickly shifting landscapes.
The Week 4 schedule is stuffed with engaging matchups throughout the nation, with a few of these new rivalries taking heart stage. Saturday can be highlighted by three video games between top-20 groups who’re dealing with one another for the primary time as convention foes. No. 11 USC squares off with No. 18 Michigan within the Huge Home, No. 12 Utah heads to Stillwater to play No. 14 Oklahoma State in its first-ever Huge 12 highway sport and No. 6 Tennessee would be the first SEC customer to No. 15 Oklahoma as Vols’ coach Josh Huepel faces this system the place he received a nationwide title as a participant.
Week 4 strains are out, so let’s check out what oddsmakers are pondering as nicely look forward.
Odds through SportsLine consensus
The massive video games
No. 24 Illinois at No. 22 Nebraska (-8.5) (Friday): Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers have appeared just like the crew that many noticed coming. In the meantime, Illinois got here from off the radar to crash the highest 25 with a 3-0 begin that features a nonconference win towards Kansas. Enjoying in Lincoln has been an amazing dwelling subject benefit for Nebraska thus far and the oddsmakers suppose it is going to be once more, giving Matt Rhule’s group a two-score edge on the factors unfold.
No. 11 USC (-6.5) at No. 18 Michigan: This unfold, possibly greater than another in Week 4, reveals two groups who’ve gone in reverse instructions within the eyes of the oddsmakers because the season began. The Wolverines have been picked by as many as double digits when this sport was first posted at sportsbooks over the summer time, and now the Trojans discover themselves favored by practically a landing within the Huge Home. Michigan’s offensive struggles and USC’s defensive enchancment have offered the on-field causes for the large changes within the energy rankings. Now, for the second time in a month, the reigning nationwide championships are dwelling underdogs.
No. 12 Utah at No. 14 Oklahoma State (-2.5): One of many video games of the yr within the Huge 12 arrives early within the schedule and can be pivotal is establishing the convention title race for the remainder of the season. With a 16-team league the imbalanced schedule will make head-to-head outcomes between contenders essential to deciding who will get to play for the Huge 12 championship, and certain the Faculty Soccer Playoff bid that comes with it.
No. 6 Tennessee (-7) at No. 15 Oklahoma: Tennessee is beginning to appear to be probably the greatest groups within the nation, nevertheless it has but to place its championship hopes on the road like it’s going to on Saturday evening Norman. The Sooners have been up-and-down of their 3-0 begin, however a house win towards Tennessee may assist issues actually fall into place as they start their first-ever season of SEC play.
